My standard recommendation
DON'T BUY ANYTHING!!!!! go to http://www.woodturner.org/ and locate a
local club. Join the club and get some experience first. If there is not a
local club then contact me and I will try and locate you a local turner in
the AAW directory.
Often what you think you want to do changes after you see the many things
possible. Why are so many different lathes sold? Because there are so many
different types of turning.